Epidemiology and risk factors of hallux valgus in Japanese population: HAPPI study.

Introduction: Hallux valgus (HV) is a common foot deformity characterized by lateral deviation of the great toe. Despite known associations with gender, age, and footwear, the prevalence of HV and its associated risk factors in Japan remain unclear. We conducted the first-ever prospective population-based cohort study (HAPPI study) in Japan to elucidate the prevalence of HV and identify its associated risk factors.

Cooling-induced brushite crystallization in urine as a predictive risk marker for calcium kidney stone recurrence.

Kidney stones have a high recurrence rate-10% within 5 years and 50% within 10. Crystalluria reflects the urinary physicochemical environment and may serve as a recurrence marker, but key crystals like brushite are rarely detected under ambient conditions. This study aimed to identify novel recurrence markers by inducing crystallization through urine cooling and analyzing crystal composition.

Mineralocorticoid effects of fludrocortisone and hydrocortisone in primary adrenal insufficiency: EU-AIR patient data.

Purpose: Patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) require mineralocorticoid replacement therapy in addition to glucocorticoids. These therapies should be considered in combination because most glucocorticoids also possess mineralocorticoid activity. We aimed to investigate the relationship between fludrocortisone and hydrocortisone-equivalent dosing in patients with PAI.

Young-onset dementia: Investigating timelines of admission to aged residential care and health outcomes.

ObjectivesThere is limited research on entry to aged residential care (ARC) in people living with young-onset dementia (YOD). Most people with YOD eventually require ARC, often in facilities designed for older adults. This study aimed to investigate the time to ARC admission in a previously identified YOD cohort and their health outcomes before and after ARC admission.

Screening and eradication of or gastric cancer prevention: Taipei Global Consensus II.

Objective: To convene a global consensus on () screening and eradication strategies for gastric cancer prevention, identify key knowledge gaps and outline future research directions.

Methods: 32 experts from 12 countries developed and refined consensus statements on management, using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework to assess evidence and the Delphi method to achieve ≥80% agreement.

Results: Consensus was achieved on 28 statements.

Clinical impact of mean pulmonary arterial pressure after balloon pulmonary angioplasty for inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) improves haemodynamics in patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Previous studies on BPA have set the treatment objective to achieve a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) of <30 mm Hg. However, the clinical impact of mPAP after BPA remains unclear.

Activity-based probes and chemical proteomics uncover the biological impact of targeting HMGCS1 in the mevalonate pathway.

Mevalonate is a precursor for essential metabolites, such as isoprenoids and sterols. Its synthesis starts with HMGCS1 producing HMG-CoA, which is then converted to mevalonate by HMGCR, a target of statins. Cancer cells often upregulate enzymes in the mevalonate pathway (MVP) to meet their metabolic demands, leading to the development of inhibitors targeting several enzymes in this pathway.

Insights from the first 820 patients from the Brazilian Multicenter Registry of Hereditary Angioedema: the key role of genetic testing and targeted therapies.

Background: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder with a prevalence of 1:50,000 individuals. Delayed diagnosis and deaths from asphyxia still occur.

Objective: To identify knowledge and management gaps regarding clinical, genetic, and therapeutic aspects of HAE in Brazil, aiming to improve patient care and outcomes.

Enkephalin-producing regulatory T cells in the skin restrain local inflammation through control of nociception.

The skin integrates diverse signals discerned by sensory neurons and immune cells to elicit adaptive responses to a range of stresses. Considering interactions between nervous and immune systems, we examined whether regulatory T (T) cells, which suppress systemic and local inflammation, can modulate activation of peripheral neurons. Acute T cell "loss of function" increased neuronal activation to noxious stimuli independently of their immunosuppressive function.

Gene expression profiling and pathway analysis in acute myeloid leukaemia-normal karyotype patients.

Acute myeloid leukaemia-normal karyotype (AML-NK) exhibits heterogeneity in expression profiles, influencing the treatment response and survival outcome. Transcriptome sequencing allows a comprehensive analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and dysregulated pathways in AML-NK, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms and their implications in patients' management. DEG analyses utilising transcriptome sequencing were conducted using a customised DESeq2 pipeline on 51 AML-NK patients at diagnosis (DX), 12 AML-NK patients who attained first remission (CR1) and 12 healthy controls.

Cross-reactive IgE responses to cockroach, house dust mite, and seafood allergens in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Background: Cockroach allergens remain underrecognized in allergic diseases, despite growing evidence of their clinical impact. This study investigated cockroach sensitization prevalence in allergic rhinitis (AR) patients and its cross-reactivity with house dust mite (HDM) and seafood allergens.

Methods: 110 AR patients sensitized to at least one of eight allergens: (PA), (BG), (DP), (DF), (BT), shrimp, crab and squid were enrolled.

Classification of liver lesions based on temporal changes in hepatobiliary phase contrast on magnetic resonance imaging: a preliminary study.

This study evaluated whether temporal changes from the dynamic late phase to the hepatobiliary phase using gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid supported liver tumor classification. A total of 147 patients with 165 lesions (hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC], metastases, and hemangiomas) underwent 3.0 T MRI.

Reducing post-cesarean sepsis: Current best practice in prevention and treatment.

Cesarean section is the most common surgical procedure performed worldwide. It is associated with good perinatal and maternal outcomes when indicated. The rising global cesarean birth rate has coincided with an increase in post-cesarean sepsis - specifically site infections, which have an incidence of 7% worldwide.

Small intestinal metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosed and resected as intestinal obstruction caused by a foreign body.

Hematogenous metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to the small intestine are rare. In most cases, hematogenous metastasis is symptomatic, including perforation or bleeding, and the prognosis is poor. A 63-year-old man had lower right abdominal pain, and small intestinal obstruction due to chronic inflammation of the foreign body was suspected on computed tomography.

Pharyngeal electrical stimulation to treat dysphagia in acute stroke: learnings from cases in the PhEED clinical trial.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of pharyngeal electrical stimulation in improving dysphagia post-stroke.

Design: A randomized, sham-controlled, blinded multicentre clinical trial.

Subjects/patients: Seventeen patients with acute ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke experiencing dysphagia, indicated by a penetration aspiration scale score of 4-8 on videofluoroscopy.

Serum ergothioneine and risk of dementia in a general older Japanese population: the Hisayama Study.

Aim: To investigate the association between serum ergothioneine and risk of developing dementia and its subtypes in a community-dwelling older population.

Methods: In this prospective longitudinal analysis of participants enrolled in the Hisayama Study, 1344 Japanese community-residents aged 65 years and over without dementia at baseline were followed prospectively for a median of 11.2 years (2012-2023).

Longitudinal Evaluation of Ataxia and Brain Structural Changes in RFC1-Related Disorder.

Background: The progression of brain damage in CANVAS/RFC1 remains unclear.

Objective: To describe longitudinal brain changes in CANVAS/RFC1.

Methods: Ten RFC1-positive patients and 10 controls underwent 3T-MRI scans 2 years apart.

Expression patterns of plasma microRNAs in patients with cervical cancer from two teaching hospitals in Ghana.

Aim: Early cervical cancer diagnosis is a global challenge that needs to be addressed by the discovery of less invasive diagnostic and prognostic approaches. Circulating miRNAs are stable in plasma and their diagnostic potentials have been elucidated in some cancers. Therefore, in this cross-sectional study, we determined the patterns of expression of 7 selected circulating microRNAs that differ between patients with cervical cancer receiving therapy, patients with cervical not on therapy and healthy females.

Objective Severity Classification of Unilateral Cleft Lip Nasal Deformity Using Nostril Width, Alar Facial Symmetry Ratio, and Columellar Angle to Justify Surgical Outcomes.

Introduction: Unilateral cleft lip nasal (UCL/N) deformity severity presents complex anatomical challenges, with surgical outcomes influenced by preoperative status. Existing classification systems for UCL/N lack standardization, relying on subjective clinical assessments or isolated anthropometric measures that fails to assess anatomical deformity comprehensively. This limits their utility in objectively stratifying deformity severity and justifying postoperative outcomes.

Components of particulate matter as potential risk factors for acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2.5 µm (PM) is a heterogeneous mixture, and specific substances that affect cardiovascular events remain unknown. We aimed to examine the association of short-term exposure to PM and its components with hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Subclassification of Phenotypic Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a rare situation where biallelic genetic disturbance of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism leads to extreme elevation of LDL cholesterol. There is a great variety of severity in their phenotype, where some patients exhibit premature supravalvular aortic stenosis at their early childhood, whereas others experience myocardial infarction at their adolescence. In addition, there is a set of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients whose phenotype fall into between heterozygous FH and HoFH.

Impact of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treated With Chemotherapy Plus Bevacizumab or Anti-EGFRs: Exploratory Analysis of Eight Randomized Trials.

Purpose: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplification/overexpression (HER2-pos) is detected in 5% of wild-type metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRCs). Its prognostic/predictive role in terms of benefit from anti-EGFR/bevacizumab (bev) is debated. Similarly, the role of activating mutations (mut) is unclear.